International OK

International OK

The OK dinghy is a single-handed dinghy, 4 m long with a single 8.5 square meter sail mounted on an unstayed mast on a 72 kg hull that is home built or professionally built of wood, grp or composite.

The OK has been around since 1957 and the fleet at UTSC started to form in 1976. By 1978 the fleet had reached 10 in number and moved to have its own class racing and trophies. There is OK class racing throughout the year with 4 seasonal racing series, some decided using personal handicaps to assist less experienced helms. In addition, there are numerous handicap events throughout the year.

In 2007 UTSC held the OK's 50 ^th birthday celebration when over 30 boats fought for a place on the starting line. Whilst in current years UTSC's Bourne End Week at the end of May hosts the OK River Championships.

The OK is the club's most popular single-handed sailing dinghy with sailors of all ages from teenage to senior citizen. The club has three club boats that can be used by any club member to first try out and then to race (until, hopefully the member buys their own OK).

With all the major championships in recent years regularly attracting over 100 boats from multiple countries and continents and an influx of ex-Olympians and champions from other classes, the OK Dinghy can rightfully claim to be one of the premier international non-Olympic adult classes. With the World Championship coming to the UK in 2023 (with over 150 entries), now is the perfect time to join the class and show the world what you can do on home waters against the best in the World.

Sail Club Class In comfort and in style

While the OK is attracting top sailors worldwide it is also one of the most underrated boats in the UK dinghy scene and perfect for many club sailors. While many will remember the OK as it was 'back in the day' with wooden or metal masts, the advent of the modern OK rig with carbon mast and radial sail has transformed the boat into an absolute dream to sail. Despite the apparently low boom, the deep cockpit, almost completely free of obstructions gives plenty of room for tacks and gybes and that cockpit depth means kneeling on the downwind legs will be a thing of the past. The centreboard makes launching and recovery easy and should you capsize it is in easy reach from the water, making recovery straight forward.

The third place boat at the recent World Championship was a 35 year old GRP hull fitted with an up-to-date rig and sailed by a talented sailor. If that wasn't shocking enough, two boats in the top ten were home built wood hulls from CNC kit sets. Furthermore, the class has consciously avoided the fashion for laminate sails and stayed with Dacron to avoid the short competitive life and sometimes severe shrinkage found in laminate sails in similar classes. Putting these characteristics together, an OK with a modern rig offers phenomenal long-term value and a classy, comfortable ride for the club sailor.

Further information

Please contact the OK class captain at the club sailing@utsc.org.uk or come down to the club and talk to any of the OK sailors there. If you're interested we can organise a trial sail in an OK for you.

There is an active UK class association, visit their website or Facebook page . This association is part of the International OK Association.

Last updated 23:01 on 16 February 2024